Clifton Arrest and Booking Data
Clifton 72 hour booking records track arrests made by the Clifton Police Department in Passaic County. These records are part of the public record under New Jersey law. Anyone can request booking details from the past 72 hours, which include the name of the person arrested, the charges filed, and the date and time of the arrest. Clifton processes arrest records through its Records Division at City Hall. The city also works with the Passaic County Jail at 11 Marshall Street in Paterson for inmates held on more serious charges.
Clifton Records Division Hours
The Clifton Police Records Division handles requests for 72 hour booking records and other police reports. It is located inside Clifton City Hall. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. On Tuesday evenings, the office stays open until 7 PM. This extended Tuesday schedule took effect on February 6, 2024.
You can reach the Records Division at 973-470-5877. Reports are available three business days after the incident. You will need the incident number and date to pick up a record. Walk-in requests are accepted during office hours.
Not all Clifton records are available. Juvenile reports are sealed. Investigative details from open cases cannot be released. Records tied to major crimes pending trial are also off limits. These restrictions apply regardless of how you submit your request.
Note: Accident reports from Clifton are available online after three business days. Check with the Records Division for the link.
72 Hour Booking OPRA Requests in Clifton
The Open Public Records Act gives you the right to request Clifton booking records in writing. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, government records are presumed public. The custodian of records must respond within seven business days per N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5. You do not need to state a reason for your request.
Clifton accepts OPRA requests through several channels. You can submit through the Clifton OPRA portal powered by NextRequest. You can also mail or hand-deliver requests to the City of Clifton, 900 Clifton Ave, Clifton, NJ 07013. The OPRA phone line is (973) 470-5825. Fax requests go to (973) 470-5264. Email requests can be sent to opra@cliftonnj.org.
The image below shows the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, which also handles arrest records for Clifton residents held at the county jail.
Be specific in your request. Include names, dates, and case numbers when possible. Vague requests may be denied or delayed. The custodian may also ask for clarification before processing your Clifton booking record request.
Clifton Police Department Contacts
The Clifton Police Department has several divisions that may hold arrest and booking data. Each unit handles a different type of record. Here are the key numbers:
- Main Desk: 973-470-5262
- Non-Emergency Line: 973-470-5900
- Detective Bureau: 973-470-5908
- Traffic Division: 973-470-5904
- Juvenile Unit: 973-470-5882
- Internal Affairs: 973-470-5867
Evidence requests require an appointment. Call 973-470-5881 to schedule. Firearms permits and fingerprinting also require an appointment at 973-803-5712. These are separate from 72 hour booking record requests but may come up in related matters.
Note: Clifton's non-emergency line is the best starting point if you are unsure which division holds the record you need.
Passaic County Jail and Clifton Arrests
People arrested in Clifton on serious charges are transferred to the Passaic County Jail at 11 Marshall Street in Paterson. The county jail maintains its own set of booking records. These records may contain details beyond what the Clifton police log shows, such as intake processing notes and housing assignments.
The Passaic County Sheriff's Office oversees the jail. You can contact them for county-level booking data. For current custody status, check VINELink, a free service that lets you search by name and receive alerts when an inmate's status changes.
The image below shows the New Jersey OPRA portal, which provides guidance on submitting public records requests statewide, including for Clifton arrest records.
County records and city records are separate. A Clifton arrest may generate records at both levels. If you need a complete picture, submit requests to both the Clifton Records Division and the Passaic County Sheriff.
Your Rights to Clifton Booking Records
New Jersey law protects your right to access 72 hour booking records. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-3, arrest information must be made public within 24 hours. This includes the name, age, and residence of the arrested person, the charges, the arresting officers, and the circumstances of the arrest. Bail information is also part of the public record.
If Clifton denies your request, the custodian must state the reason. You can appeal to the New Jersey Government Records Council or file a complaint in Superior Court. The appeal window is 45 days from the date of denial.
Some Clifton records may qualify for expungement under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1. If a court grants an expungement petition, the arrest record is sealed. It will no longer appear in public searches. Not all offenses are eligible, and waiting periods apply.
Clifton Court and Case Searches
Once a Clifton arrest moves to the court system, you can track it through the New Jersey Courts case search. This free tool shows case status, hearing dates, and charges. It covers all courts in the state, including those handling Clifton cases in Passaic County.
Court records are separate from 72 hour booking records. A booking record documents the arrest itself. Court records follow the case from arraignment to disposition. Both are public, but you access them through different channels.
Passaic County 72 Hour Booking
Clifton is one of the largest cities in Passaic County. All arrests in Clifton that result in county jail time fall under Passaic County jurisdiction. For county-wide arrest records, additional booking resources, and related public record tools, visit the full Passaic County page.